Differential mechanism



P 1943- F. D. KNOBLOCK 2,329,058

DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISM Fi led June 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 p 1943- F. D. KNOBLOCK DIFFERENTIAL MECHANISM Filed June 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FINN. \L EH.

Patented Sept. 7, 1943 xi;

signor, by mesne assignments, to Patent De- Jvelopers, Ind, Detroit, Mich a corporation of a Michigan Application June 2, 194%, Serial No. 445,517

The present invention is an improvement in axle differentials or compensators for two-opposed shafts which becomes operative for differentiation when there is relative speed between the two shafts.

One of the objects of thepresent invention is to simplify the constructin'and reduce the number of parts by providing a splined connection directly between the inside of the differential housing and the driving clutch members.

A second object is to facilitate assembly and disassembly by the provision of a unitary subassembly including two driving clutch members, a springtherebetween, twoclutch disengaging cam members, a spool on which said disengaging members are splined andalong which they are independently slidable, and two snap rings thatmaintain these elements in place on said spool.

A third object is the protection of the driving clutch members and other parts during operation by locating the spool between ,the two driven clutch members and positioning -thespool.,ior immediate engagement by one of the two driven clutch members should the latter be axially displaced by one of the two shafts and thus insuring the transmission of a i e.

Another object is the more eflicient operation of the device by shaping the cam teeth on J-the any axial thrust to the driven clutch members and on the; clutch disen.- 1

gaging members so that the mating, pitch' diarm eters are inboard of the outer edgesjof the cam teeth, thus eliminating chipping of these edges of the teeth and reducing iriction when the clutches areengaging or disengaging. The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the axle differen tial, the ring gear and part of the .differentia housing; 1 1 4 lliig. 2 is an exploded view showing theoperative parts in perspective I i Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the driven clutch members: and. I r

"Fig. '4 is an elevation of the driving and driven members, the spool and the spring. H

Referring to .the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the inventive idea and wherein flange l3 to which a ring gear I4 may be affixed as by bolts l5. Within this housing is carried a cam members t8 whereby the spool v22 .drivingi'y.

a pair of driving clutch members iii, l6,'.a pair of :driven clutch members, l1 .and .apa-i-r of :clutch disengaging cam members Iii, la. The driving clutch membershave splines it on their periphery. that engage corresponding splines :12 on the interior .of the differential housing and along which splines t2 the driving clutch members 15 are. longitudinally .sl-idable. The driving clutch members are provided with driving clutch teeth It that engage driven clutch teeth ;.on the driven clutch members 11. The clutch disengag iing cam members l8 are provided with team teeth l8 which engage cornesponding cam teeth 2| on driven clutch members I]. The clutch disengaging cam members L8 are mounted on. and carried by a .spool 22 provided withlongituclinal splines 23 engaging-splines 24 on said clutch disenga ing connects the clutch disengaging, cam members it which are independently slidable inwardly along the splines on said spool :22. {the cam di en in members 18 are held'inposition on the spool22 by a air of snap rin s 25, 11hr: dirfferential housing 12 is closed :by a cap .26 which has-1a screw-threaded engagement 21 with the housing or is otherwise secured in 1 1668,. As shown in Fig. 1, the left-hand driven clutch member l1 engages the interior of the housing.

which thus prevents axial movement thereof to the left, and the right-hand driven clutch mem disenga ge the clutch when there is relative speed of rotation between-the shafts t0 and M, the

disengagement of the clutch being effected by e the operation of the cam :teeth 2-! carried by the driven clutch members 41 on the cam teeth 4,8; of the clutch disengaging member -18, this action being. made effective by the lost motion between the clutch teeth [.9 and 2,0 as indicated at A in Fig. 4. v

It is pointed out that the opening in the spool .22 'is large enough .to accommodate the shafts In and lrl, the ends .of which shafts aresplined at 29 to engage splines 30 on the driven clutch members. The spool 22 is positioned between the driven clutch members I! and the clearance between the spool 22 and the two driven clutch Assembly and disassembly are further facili-- tated by the provision of a unitary sub-assembly including the two driving clutch members I6, w

the spring 28, the clutch disengaging members [8, the spool 22 and the two snap rings 25, In

forming this subassembly the left-hand snap ring is first placed on the spool 22 after which the left-hand clutch disengaging cam member I8 is slid over the spool with its cam teeth l8 toward the snap ring 25. The left-hand driving clutch member 16 is then slid over the clutch disengaging cam member I 8 so that the clutch teeth I9 are on the same side as the cam teeth. 'The spring .28 is then placed in position in the driving clutch member [6 after which the right- .hand driving clutch member I6 is engaged with the spring and the right-hand clutch disengaging cam member I8 is assembled over the splines on the spool 22 so that its cam teeth [8 are properly indexed with respect to the other clutch disengaging member l8. The assembly is pushed together, compressing the spring 28, and

the elements are held in place by means of the right-hand snap ring 25 engaging the groove 3| at the right-handmargin of the spool. The distance between the snap rings 25 in the grooves'3l is such that both of the clutch disengaging members l8 cannot engage the snap rings at the same time and therefore the snap rings are relieved of all end thrust during operation. This subassembly canjbe readily introduced and removed from the differential housing. When the differential is to be assembled and the parts positioned, as shown for example in 'Fig. 1, the left-hand driven clutch member I! is first inserted in the housing. The subassem- 'bly just described is next introduced with the splines [6' on the driving clutch members I6 engaging the splines 12' on the interior of "the Care should be taken that the housing [2. splines IS on the two driving clutch members 16 are in axial alignment and so engaged with splines I2. The right-hand driven clutch member I1 is then inserted in the differential housing, the differential housing cap 26 is screwed into the housing, and a dowel pin 32 is then inserted. Lastly the axle shafts Ill and H are inserted.

Itwill be noted (Fig. 3) that the cam teeth 2| The construction of the differential is simplified, the number of parts are reduced by eliminating the customary driving spider and provided the splined connection between the interior of the housing or casing l2 and the driving clutch members I6, assembly and disassembly of the differential are facilitated, and the driving members are maintained in such spaced relation that, if necessary, both may be simultaneously declutched.

It will be understood that while one embodiment of the inventive idea has been illustrated and described in detail, such idea is susceptible of other mechanical embodiments within the scope of the appended claims,

What is claimed is:

1. In an axle differential for two opposed shafts, a housing, a pair of driving clutch members, aspring between the same, a pair of driven clutch members, a pair of clutch disengaging members positioned between said drivingand driven -.clutch members, a spool on which said clutch disengaging members are mounted and drivingly connected and along which they are slidab-le, and a pair of snap rings for retaining said spool, driving clutch members, spring and clutch disengaging members as a unitary subassembly.

3. In an axle differential for two opposed shafts, a casing, a pair of driving clutch members, a pair of 'driven clutch members engaging said casing :and being immovable axially outward, a pair of clutch disengaging'members, a

spool on which said clutch disengaging members are mounted and to which they are drivingly connected, said spool being positioned between and immediately adjacent said driven clutch members 'wherebyaxi'al thrust on their driven clutch member is transmitted to the casing through said spool and the other driven clutch member. 7

4. m an axle differential for two opposed shafts, a pair of driving clutch' memberS,-a pair of driven clutch members each having clutch teeth and clutch disengaging cam teeth, and a pair of-clutch disengaging members provided with cam teeth that-engage the cam teeth on the driven clutch members, said cam teeth on the driven clutch members and on the clutch disengaging members being curvedin a radial direction so that the line of tooth contact' is nearer the center of the cam teeth whereby chipping at the edges of the teeth is prevented and friction between the cam teeth is reduced during clutch engagement and disengagement.

FREDERICK D. KNOBLOCK. 

